[26/October/2009]

RIYADH, Oct. 26 (Saba) - A regional anti-piracy taskforce is yet to take shape after the Arabian Gulf States and those countries overlooking the Red Sea have started steps for the crucial mission.

During the second meeting of Foreign Ministry experts and navy officials in the countries recently held in Saudi Arabia, the countries entrusted a working team of their naval leaderships with setting out all details about the ambitious project.

The idea was first approved in a Riyadh June meeting that gathered Foreign Ministry experts and navy officials in the countries.

In the meeting, Yemen presented a work paper dealing with Yemen's view over changes in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa and challenges presented by piracy off Somalia which has triggered fears of the whole world.

The paper also highlighted other crimes such as drugs and human trafficking as well as illegal migration.

Yemen has earlier called for an Arab mission to protect the Red Sea security and combat all forms of organized crimes in the region.

In the meeting, Yemen called for establishing an effective mechanism including coordination between the yet-to-be Anti-Piracy Mission and the Yemeni authorities to share information through a Regional Anti-Pirate Center to be built in it.

In recent years, piracy has soared off Somalia, the African state without a central government since 1990.

The region saw more attacks last year with the vessels reported hijacked passing 140. And this year many attacks took place, with the phenomenon being lucrative as the pirates usually demand ransoms for what they seize.

In response to piracy, an international anti-pirate mission was dispatched into the region including troops and equipment from the EU, the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and other countries.

Many pirate attacks have been foiled by the mission, with some pirates seized given to Yemen to stand trial.

FR